Golden State Connect Authority challenged many AT&T applications for last-mile support from the California Public Utilities Commission’s federal funding account (FFA). AT&T seeks to upgrade current infrastructure with public funds without expanding broadband service, the authority’s general counsel, Arthur Wylene, said in a letter about a San Luis, California, project that was similar to 49 other letters he sent to the CPUC Monday. “Additionally, in examination of the sheer number of projects proposed by AT&T statewide and commensurate funding requests, the cumulative request by AT&T for all its projects statewide indicates that the applicant will not have the financial, technical, or operational capacity to complete all the proposed projects within the timeframe required by the Last Mile FFA grant program.” Also, Wylene raised concerns with AT&T proposing aerial installations in areas of the state with elevated wildfire risk. The carrier should lose points for not proposing any partnerships with local governments, nonprofits or tribes, he said. In one of the letters, Wylene added that an AT&T project proposed for Nevada County completely overlapped an area where Race Communications received a grant to deploy last-mile fiber. AT&T “submitted applications that align with the CPUC FFA Guidelines, make efficient use of existing infrastructure, and speed deployment of robust broadband service to Californians as quickly and efficiently as possible," said a company spokesperson: The carrier is working with state, local and tribal governments to increase access to affordable broadband across the state.
Adam Bender
Adam Bender, Senior Editor, is the state and local telecommunications reporter for Communications Daily, where he also has covered Congress and the Federal Communications Commission. He has won awards for his Warren Communications News reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists, Specialized Information Publishers Association and the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. Bender studied print journalism at American University and is the author of dystopian science-fiction novels. You can follow Bender at WatchAdam.blog and @WatchAdam on Twitter.
Telecom companies raised concerns about adding state USF goals on service quality and other issues in comments posted Monday at the Nebraska Public Service Commission. And as the PSC considers sweeping Nebraska USF (NUSF) changes, Charter Communications warned that it might be unlawful to support broadband with a fund designed for telecom services. Small rural companies said the fund should support ongoing costs that make networks expensive in remote areas even after they are deployed.
“There is literally zero chance the FCC is going to rule in our favor” and reverse its rejection of LTD Broadband’s long-form application for the Rural Digital Opportunities Fund (RDOF) program, company CEO Corey Hauer said Thursday at a Minnesota Public Utilities Commission meeting. Even so, Hauer said the wireless ISP will continue to defend itself at the PUC and still wants to keep its eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation in the state.
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- The FCC seemed more open to collaboration with states in its final NPRM for its rulemaking to possibly reclassify broadband as a Title II service, a California Public Utilities Commission staffer said during a panel Tuesday at NARUC’s meeting here. NARUC Telecom Committee Chairman Tim Schram told us Monday that the state regulator association would probably have a resolution about the FCC net neutrality rulemaking at its February meeting in Washington (see 2311130063).
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Congress should continue “lifeblood connectivity” provided through the affordable connectivity program (ACP), Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chairman Stephen DeFrank said in an interview at this week’s NARUC meeting. Expect broadband, universal service and pole attachments to be key issues for the state PUC in the year ahead, he said. Industry officials debated possible USF changes during a Tuesday panel.
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- The EPA took “very seriously” telecom lead findings reported by the Wall Street Journal this summer (see 2307210004), EPA Senior Counselor to the Administrator Grant Cope said Monday. The government’s investigation continues, he told the NARUC Telecom Committee at the association’s meeting here. Also, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s former chief of staff Travis Litman said the FCC will have to “run, not walk” to complete net neutrality and other possibly divisive items before the election.
The telecom industry applauded Texas voters Thursday for supporting a constitutional amendment to create a $1.5 billion broadband infrastructure fund. More than 69% of voters supported Proposition No. 8 (HJR-125) in Tuesday’s election. The state will distribute the money over two years under measures the legislature approved earlier this year (see 2306120035 and 2305300057). AT&T is happy to see Texas voters “prioritize broadband expansion and closing the digital divide by passing Prop 8,” said AT&T Texas President Leslie Ward. Passage means there will be “a constitutionally dedicated funding source for broadband expansion, emergency services and next-generation 911,” Texas Telephone Association Executive Director Mark Seale wrote in an email. Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc., supported the measure during the legislative session and is "glad to see these funds being made available to enhance broadband, infrastructure and availability in Texas," said TSTCI Board President Allen Hyer. Meanwhile, Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey (R) told us Thursday there was no change in his uncalled race against De’Keither Stamps (D), a state rep (see 2311080040). With more than 95% of the vote in, Stamps leads 50.5% to 49.5%. Stamps didn’t comment.
The California Public Utilities Commission granted Verizon one more year to comply with a condition in the CPUC’s Verizon/Tracfone OK to migrate Tracfone customers to its network, the carrier reported to the email service list for docket A.20-11-001 Wednesday. Verizon now has until Nov. 22, 2024. CPUC Executive Director Rachel Peterson in July had denied the carrier's request “on the grounds" it was “ambiguous and failed to identify any strategy changes that the company might pursue to ensure a successful customer migration process,” she said in a letter. But a revised Verizon request filed Sept. 28 “remedies the deficiencies in its prior request and demonstrates good cause,” she said. “Verizon identified additional measures it is implementing to achieve the customer migration … including ‘concierge’ live customer service support, instructional videos, and leveraging the TracFone Rewards program.” A CPUC administrative law judge last week delayed a related proceeding on an Oct. 6 petition by Center for Accessible Technology to modify the CPUC Verizon/Tracfone approval because Verizon, CforAT and The Utility Reform Network (TURN) said they were nearing a settlement (see 2311060015 and 2311030008). “Delays are not neutral,” emailed Ashley Salas, TURN telecommunication regulatory and policy attorney. “The extension means some of TracFone’s consumers will not receive any benefits from the merger for another year.”
New Hampshire legislators addressed the state DOJ’s concerns about not having enough resources to enforce a comprehensive consumer data privacy bill, a department spokesperson said Wednesday. The state legislature’s House Judiciary Committee voted 17-3 that day to amend and advance SB-255 to the floor. With the changes, "uniformly, everyone is a little unhappy, and so I consider that a success,” state Rep. Marjorie Smith (D) told the committee at a livestreamed meeting Wednesday.
State Rep. De’Keither Stamps (D) appeared to have the edge Wednesday in a rematch with Mississippi Public Service Commission incumbent Brent Bailey (R). But Bailey, who narrowly defeated Stamps for the same seat in 2019, hadn’t conceded as of Wednesday afternoon. The New York Times showed Stamps leading 50.5% to 49.5%. Bailey continues to monitor results, the commissioner said in a statement. “While we are hopeful that there could be a favorable tranche of vote numbers to come in and swing the results, we are also realists. But we are going to hang in there until every last vote is vetted, counted and appropriately certified.” The Republican added, “The fight is not over. The fight will likely never be over.” Stamps didn't comment. Each candidate told us before the election that he wanted to ensure all their citizens have internet access (see 2311010043). Developer Nelson Carr (R) and State Rep. Chris Brown (R) will also join the PSC after running uncontested. Carr defeated incumbent Dane Maxwell (R) in the primary. If the results hold, Stamps would be the lone Democrat on the three-member body. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) defeated Democratic challenger Brandon Presley, who was formerly NARUC president and a Mississippi PSC member. Reeves won 51.6% of the vote, Presley 47%. That’s despite Presley getting 79% of the vote in Hinds County, which includes Jackson, Mississippi. Reeves signed off on an executive branch broadband office in 2022 (see 2204150013). Earlier this year, the Republican approved a bill to transfer robocall enforcement authority to the state AG office from the PSC (see 2303230027). Stamps co-sponsored both bills as a state representative.